Puzzle.



C. H. KRAMB.

PUZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1914 1,140,600. Patented May 25, 1915.

PUZZLE.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented May 215, 1915.

Applicatoin filed November 3, 1914. Serial No. 870,103.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES H. KRAMB, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toys, and more particularly to that class of toys commonly known as puzzles, and has for its object the provision of a puzzle which will be both instructive and amusing to the person endeavoring to solve the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a puzzle which is simple in construction, and cheap to manufacture and that at the same time presents a problem which is somewhat diificult to solve in spite of the simplicity of the device.

With the above and other objects in view this invention resides preferably in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter set forth in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in .Which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my 1nvention assembled. Fig. 2 is a plan view of one face of one of the elements which enter into the construction of my improved puzzle. Fig. 3 is a like view of one of the other of the elements of my invention. Fig. 4is a side elevation of the key of, the device. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the same. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the two 7 elements are connected.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout. the various views of thedrawings.

Referring more particularly to the drawings in which the preferred embodiment of my inventionis illustrated, I provide a pair of elements comprising elongated blocks 1 and 2, said elongated blocks 1 and 2 being adapted tobe connected. A third part is provided in my invention which 'COIlSlSlDS of a key indicated generally by the numeral 3, said key 3 being adapted to be engaged by the two elongated blocks 1 and 2 when the puzzle is assembled.

The puzzle is shown in its normal condition in Fig. 1, that is, the puzzle is shown assembled and the object of the device is to extract the key 3 from connection with the blocks 1 and 2. As shown to advantage in Figs. 2 and 3 the blocks 1 and 2 are provided with openings 4: and 5 respectively, the opening 4 in the block 1 being formed substantially longitudinal of the body portion of the block, while the opening 5 in the block 2 is formed substantially transverse of the body portion of the block 2,'so that when the blocks are joined the openings will be disposed at right angles to one another, providing a substantially rectangular openlng therethrough. The opening 5 is not quite as large as the opening 4, however, this does not have a very large bearing on the invention. I

In order to detachably connect the said blocks 1 and 2 I have provided an improved.

means, which is one of the essential features of the puzzle, and resides in providing in one of the blocks, namely 2, a plurality of irregular slots or recesses indicated generally by the numerals 6 and 7, said recesses or irregular slots 6 and 7 being disposed in one face of the blocks 2 and adjacent each end thereof and on each side of the opening 5. I shall describe only one of these irregular slots 6 and 7 it being understood that both of these irregular slots are substantially the same in contour, and also that any number of the same may be provided. The said slots comprise an intermediate portion 8 terminating at one end of a transverse portion 9,- and at the other end in an enlarged portion 10, the contour of the walls of the slots excepting the enlarged portion 10 being T-shaped in configuration as indicated to advantage in Fig. 6. The enlarged portion 10 of the slot 6 is disposed substantially central of the body portion of the block 2. Upon the other block 1 a plurality of complemental lugs or projections 11 and 12 are provided, having heads 13 thereon, said heads 13 being adapted for engagement in the slots 6 and 7 by virtue of their T configuration. When it is desired to connect the blocks 1 and 2 the faces of the blocks are placed together, the projection 12 being inserted in the enlarged portion 10 of the slot 6, it being understood that projection 11 engages in the enlarged portion 10 of the slot 7 The blocks at this time are substantially in alinement, and in order to lock the same it is necessary to force the heads 13 of the projections 11 and 12 transversely into alinement with the intermediate por-.

tion 8 of the slots6 and Y. The block 1 at this time is slid longitudinally of the block 2 forcing the projections 11 and 12 to travel 5 through the intermediate portion 8 of the slots 6 and 7 until the same reach the end portion 9 of the slots 6 and 7, at which time the blocks are locked together. In order to unlock or detach the blocks the above de scribed operation is reversed.

'I have provided a key for engagement with the blocks 1 and2 when the same are locked together. The key which has been heretofore referred to and given the numeral 3 consists of a peculiar construction in which resides one of the principal features of my invention. The said key 3 is provided with an intermediate portion or neck 14:, supporting in spaced relation the enlarged portions 15 and 16. The enlarged portion 16 is adapted for insertion in the opening 5, the portion 16 being so'placed in the opening 5 that the enlarged portion 15 extends longitudinally of the block 2. It is necessary that the enlarged portion 15 of the key 3 extend in a direction toward the slot or elongated recess 6. This is an important feature of my invention, that is, that the key must be placed in the opening 5 with the head 15 extending in the proper direction.

When the enlarged portion 16 of the key has been inserted in the opening 5 the block 1 is placed upon the block 2 with the opening 4 thereof extending over and around the head 15 of the key 3. The block 1 is now slid into locked position as described in the foregoing paragraph and it will therefore be found that it is impossible to extract the key from engagement with the blocks until the block l'is detached, and sincethe blocks 1 and 2 provide a substantially smooth exterior it has been found to afford consider? able amusement and instruction to those endeavoring to solve the puzzle. Fig. 1 illustrated to advantage the manner in which the opening 1 is positioned relative to the key 3 when the same is in locked position. v It be ing noted that the end wall 17 of the opening 1 abuts against the neck 14 of the key 3, and the side walls of the opening 4 extends over the enlarged portion 16 of the key 3 and prevents withdrawal of the key without detachment of the block. The head 15 is provided with a cut-out portion 18 on its end face in order to avoid the head of the projection 11.

WVhen the blocks are in locked position as illustrated in Fig. 1 it will be seen that the neckl l of the key 3 is disposed substantially on a central longitudinal line with the elongated opening 4, so that when the block 1 is slid transversely the neck will not interfere with the movement of the same due to contact with the walls of the 'elongated-ppenin'g 14;, and it will be readilynoted that when the block 1 is slid longitudinally. upon the block 2"that the opening 4 will come into alinement with the head 15 of the key 3 and that since at this time the heads 13 of the projections 11 and 12 are positioned in the enlarged portion'lO of the slots 6 and 7 the block 1' may be lifted readily from engagement with the block 2. In order to remove the key at this time it is only necessary to withdraw the enlarged portion 16 from the opening 5.

From the above descriptiontakenin connection with the accompanying drawings it is thought that aclear and comprehensiveunderstanding of this puzzle may be had, and while I have shown -my invention as embodying a peculiar form and construction I desire that it be understood that I may make such changes in the detail structure thereof which shall not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is

1. A puzzle comprising a pair of elongated members, means carried by each of said members for detachably connecting the same, and a key detachably connected and held by said members removal of the key being rendered impossible by the connection of the said members.

2. A puzzle comprising a pair of detach-v ably connected members, each of said detachably connected members being provided.

lease the key member when the openings register.

'3. A puzzle comprising a pair of detachably connected members, each of said members being provided with van opening, said" openings adapted to register at times, a key held in one of said openings and extending through the other of *said openings. and means associated therewith for connecting said members and preventing accidental disengagement of the same for retaining the key in position.

4:. A puzzle comprising a pair of detachably connected members, each of said members being provided with openings disposed normally out of registration, a key element disposed in said openings and normally prevented from disengagement, the face of one of said detachably connected members being provided with recesses and the opposingface of the other member having complemental studs or projections thereon for engagement with the recesses'to prevent disengagement of the members, and extraction of the key.

5. A puzzle comprising a-pair of detachably connected members, each of said mem- 1'30 bers being provided with an opening, a key times to register and allow of detachment 10 member disposed in said openings when the of the members and extraction of the key. detachably connected members are locked to- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature gether, one portion of said key being secured in presence of two witnesses.

within one of the openings of one of the members and the other portion engaging CHARLES H. KRAMB. over the opening of the other member when Witnesses:

the openings in the two members are out of WILLIAM 0. 00min,

registration, said openings being adapted at RALPH H. HOWARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

